Cosmedent supports America’s ToothFairy programs

Cosmedent has donated more than $58,000 worth of products to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America’s ToothFairy. The contribution of Renamel Microfill, restorative materials, and cements was provided to the America’s ToothFairy affiliate network to help the increasing demand for children’s oral health services, the organizations noted in a press release. The America’s ToothFairy network includes community-based healthcare facilities and outreach programs dedicated to providing the educational, preventive,

Dental care for kids with disabilities often lacking

Children with developmental disabilities often have higher rates of oral diseases because they have oral aversions or are unable to find dentists who are comfortable treating them, according to a new study in Pediatrics (February 25, 2013). Children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and craniofacial anomalies have a greater risk of developing dental disease, according to researchers at the University of Virginia in

BPA raises risk for childhood asthma

Children exposed to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) had an elevated risk for asthma in study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (March 2013, Vol. 131:3, pp. 736-742). The report, by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health in New York, is the first to find an association between early childhood exposure to BPA and asthma, the researchers

Third-molar pain disrupts pro golfer’s game

The No. 1 golfer in the world was thrown off his game by a painful third molar, according to an article in Yahoo Sports. Rory McIlroy was trying to defend his title at the Honda Classic in Palm Gardens, FL, when he had to withdraw midround. The golfer explained that he had “severe wisdom tooth pain” and was unable to concentrate. McIlroy was 7 over par after eight holes. In

Where cancer patients are treated influences survival

A study of older patients with advanced head and neck cancers has found that where they were treated significantly influenced their survival (Cancer, March 1, 2013). To conduct the study, Dr. Eduardo Méndez and colleagues from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database to identify 1,195 patients ages 66 and older who were diagnosed with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs)

Glidewell discontinues digital implant planning services

Glidewell Laboratories announced it is discontinuing its services for digital treatment planning and guided surgery for implant cases. Glidewell introduced digital implant treatment planning to its customers in 2008, and it has experienced consistent revenue growth since that time. However, the complexity of current third-party digital treatment planning software programs and the prohibitive cost of surgical guides present significant obstacles to providing the reasonable fees that Glidewell’s customers have come

Temple Univ. gets $1.75M to study pediatric oral health

UnitedHealthcare and United Health Foundation have donated $1.75 million to Temple University to study the oral health of low-income young children. The program, called Project Engage, will work with Philadelphia-area children ages 6 and younger and their families who are enrolled in Medicaid. It seeks to identify children who are the most at-risk for oral health problems and create a registry of them. In addition, dental hygienists will be available

Postmenopausal smokers risk greater tooth loss

Postmenopausal women who have smoked are at much higher risk of losing their teeth than women who never smoked, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association (March 2013, Vol. 144:3, pp. 252-265). Conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo, the study involved 1,106 women who participated in the Buffalo OsteoPerio Study, an offshoot of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial

Tooth fairy gifts up 32¢ in 2012

Perhaps an improved economy has reached the tooth fairy? The average gift from the tooth fairy was $2.42 last year, up 32¢ from $2.10 in 2011, according to Delta Dental’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll. The average gift from the tooth fairy decreased by 42¢ from 2010 to 2011. In 2012, the most common amount left under the pillow was $1, given by 51% of respondents. According to the poll, the

Alcohol consumption ups oral cancer risk in men

Alcohol consumption causes approximately 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. annually, especially oral cavity cancer in men and breast cancer in women, according to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health (February 14, 2013). It is the first comprehensive analysis of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the U.S. in more than 30 years, the study authors noted. Notably, even moderate drinkers who consume 1.5 drinks daily or fewer

Tom’s of Maine launches new kids’ toothpaste

Tom’s of Maine has launched a new toothpaste, Wicked Cool, a natural toothpaste for kids 8 years old and older. The toothpaste is made without dyes, saccharin, or artificial flavors, according to the company. The new toothpaste with fluoride cleans gently, helps fight cavities, and strengthens enamel. It has a mild mint taste and is designed as an in-between option to help kids age 8 and older transition from fruit-flavored

UCSF opens evening orthodontic clinic

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry has opened an evening orthodontic care for low-income patients. Held once a month, the UCSF Orthodontic Night Clinic charges patients about one-tenth of the typical cost, according to a story by Synapse, the UCSF student newspaper. Instead of using braces, the clinic uses all-removable devices, mainly retainers, that exert force to move the teeth. It is a simple and efficient